Boat-handling apparatus and process



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 24, 1966 w. A. KEENE ETAL BOAT-HANDLING APPARATUSAND PROCESS Filed July 1s, 1964 May 24, 1965 w. A` KEI-:NE ETAL3,252,589

BOAT-HANDLING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed July 13, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2AIR HOSE ATTACHED SLINGS REMOVED INVENTORS W' m J.

f BY

ATTORNEYS May 24, 1966 w. A. KEENE ETAL 3,252,589

BOAT-HANDLING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed July 13. 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5AlR-lN-PALLET/ 59 INVENTORS W.A. KEENE J. C. CARROLL A 7' TORNEKS' May24, 1966 w. A. KEENE ETAL 3,252,589

BOATHANDLING APPARATUS AND PROCESS Filed July 13, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4PLYWOOD TOP LAMINATED RES! LI ENT PLASTIC 69 PAD iig..

INVENTORS W. A. KEENE J.C. CARROLL BYWJQPM? ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent() 3,252,589 BOAT-HANDLING APPARATUS AND PROCESS William A. Keeneand James C. Carroll, Bartlesville,

Okla., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation ofDelaware Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. N 382,157 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) Thisinvention relates to apparatus, and to processes of operating saidapparatus, for handling boats. In one aspect, it relates to taking boatsout oi the water they are floating in and storing them on land duringperiods they are not being used, and also taking them from storage onland and iloating them iu the water when they are to be used. In anotheraspect, it relates to handling small boats very carefully, without anyappreciable chance of damage to their hulls, rudders, propellers orpaint, with maximum speed, minimum labor, and in such an efficientmanner as to attract the owners of such boats and make them want to payfor such handling and storage services at a large 'marina` A marinagenerally comprises a gasoline service station 4on land adjacent a -bodyof water for servicing small power boats, generally boats from about l2to 30 feet long which have internal combustion engines, some inboard andsome outboard, said boats weighing from about 500 to 10,000 pounds. Theword land" in this specication and claims is intended to includewharves, piers and other structures which may be surrounded by or extendout into the water, but having oors or decks above water level, and toalso include oors or pavements laid on or positioned above the surfaceof the ground In the prior art, there have been many cheap marinasbuilt, with dilapidated wharves and makeshift marine ways and Winches tohaul boats out of the water in a crude manner on skids or wheeled carts.Such treatment of a boat is very hard on its paint, hull, propellers orother parts. At present, with many potential customers owning boatsworth thousands of dollars and having plastic hulls of such materials asglass fiber-reinforced polyesters, o-r wooden hulls of mahogany orteakwood with a very high finish, these owners do not want theirprecious boat damaged by crude attempts to remove it from the water.

The present invention overcomes these difliculties of the prior art bylifting the Iboat out of the water on an air-inflated bag, moving itabout on land on a cushion of ilowing air, and storing it on solid,contour-fitting, supporting checks onto which it is gently lowered bydeflating said bag. The same gentle care is employed in removing it fromsaid chocks by inating a bag under it, moving it supported on said bagon a cushion of owing air, and lowering it gently into the water. Asidefrom the fees that customers gladly pay for such superior service, thisinvention makes the adjacent gasoline service station (not shown) moreattractive and brings it more customers for fuel, repairs, meals andother services.

One object of this invitation is to provide a novel cornbination ofapparatus for and novel processes for handling boats in and out of thewater in a superior manner with very little danger of doing any damageto their iinish or to their hulls or equipment.

Other objects are to provide means and processes suitable for movingboats on inflated air cushions and on cushions of owing air.

This apparatus is a basic part of a low cost system for handling boatsinto and out of storage or repair areas, as in marinas. The apparatuscomprises an air pallet. This pallet utilizes the ground eifectprinciple of air flotation for easy movement across paved areas. The topof the air pallet is equipped with two inflatable rubice ber bags orpneumatic chocks. The inatable pneumatic checks serve as a jack to raisethe boat on the pallet, also, due to their shape and conformity, theysupport the hull at numerous locations and hold the boat upright.

Advantages of the system include the following:

(l) Low original cost of equipment and pavement.

(2) Ability to hand move the boat in any direction to maneuver it intight areas, such as between columns, posts, or other craft.

{3) Little or no danger of the hull being scratched or damaged bymechanical handling devices.

(4) A `single system fits all boats between l2 feet and 30 feet long.

(5) The entire hull is supported while the boat is being lifted from thewater and handled.

(6) The contour blocks or storage chocks are applied fatter the hull isentirely visible; thus they can lbe located at the proper supportpoints-on the hull as marked or recommended by the boat manufacturer.

(7) The system requires little head room in excess of the over-all boatheight.

(8) It is known that the basic economic success of a marina depends uponthe number of craft stored. The maneuverability of this system allowsfor optimum use of the available space. This is of vital interest tomarina operators and designers.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilledin the art, upon reading the accompanying s-pecication and claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, showing .aboat-handling apparatus, system and process embodying the presentinvention, with prior positions of boat 11 shown in broken lines.

FIGURE 2 is a view smaller to FIGURE 1 showing a portion of the same ata later stage in the process of taking a yboat out of the Water, or anearlier stage in the process of putting a boat back into the water.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2looking in the direction indicated.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the same boat in storage, resting onthe hull-contour tting solid chocks.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4looking in the direction indicated.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an air-in-pallet which is shown in usein FIGURES l to 4.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 6 taken along the line 7--7looking in the direction indicated. Y

FIGURE 8 is an elevational View of a modified means for handling theboat at about the same point in the process as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing theuse of an air-in-iioor modification which may 'be used in the practiceof the invention in place of the air-in-pallet modification oi FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 1 a boat, generally designated as 11, is sho@ in -threesuccessive positions in the process of being removed from a body ofwater 12 and being stored on land 13, which land in FIGURE 1 comprises apier having a floor or deck 14, supporting on piling 16. Due todifferences in the geology in different shorelines, land 13 may be inmany different for-ms, including -all types of geological rockformations, or sand bars or mud banks (none of which are shown), with orWithout man-made structures thereon. It it very rare where the groundextends' near enough to the deep water and has a surface thereon smoothenough to permit the operation of airin-pallets on its surface, sogenerally land 13 will be provided with a ioor 14, or asphalt, cement orother suitable paving to make the same smooth enough for air pallet 46operation. However, the present invention is concerned with land andwith water, land 'being distinguished by having a dry surface above thesurface of the water; and because of the wide difference in geology fromplace to place and what man-made construction this geology requires toobtain -a relatively smooth surface, it is believed impractical to denethe term land any more specifically in the claims.

In FIGURE 1 there is a crane generally designated as `17 disposed so asto cover part of the land 13 and water 12. A crane is any hoistingmachine having the added capacity of moving a load in a horizontal orlateral direction. While a traveling crane is shown, obviously the cranecould be of any other type, such as a jib crane, derrick crane, bridgecrane, or pillar crane, and still practice the present invention. i

As cranes, per se, are old and as any type of crane will operate, it isnot believed necessary to go into great detail about crane 17, except tostate that, as shown, it comprises a track 18 extending over water 12and land 13 on which hoists 19 and 21 travel supported by wheels 22. Itis preferred to have, an adjustable distance between hoists 19 and 21which may be obtained by using a telescopic tube 23 and rod 24 which canbe fastened ,at any desired distance by set screw 26. There is acontinuous traversing cable 27 running over drive pulley 28 driven .bymotor 29 at one end of track 18 and over a free pulley 31 at the otherend of the track. As motor `29 is reversible, the hoists 19 and 20 canbe pulled from oneend of track 18 to the other, as shown, and any slackin line 27 can be passed over pulley 31 on hoist 19 to form loop 32connected to collar 33 secured in position on cable 27 by set screw 34.lEach of hoists 19 and 21 is provided with a hoist motor 36 and 37driving a conventional winch (not shown) for raising and lowering slings38 and 39, respectively. As all of this crane mechanism is old, it isbelieved unnecessary to show the wiring for motors 29, 36 and 37 or howthey are connected through electrical conduit 41 with control box 42, itbeing obvious that handle 43 may start, stop or reverse motor 29 whilehandle 44 is rotated in a similar manner to start, stop and reverse bothmotors 36 and 37 at the same time.

T-he Iboat 11 is originally floated on the surface of water 12 as shownin the furthest left broken line position. Slings 38 and 39 are lowered,connected to and supporting a platform or air pallet 46 which in turnsupports a submerged, deflated, pneumatic bag or chock 47. Pallet 46 andbag 47 are passed under boat 11. It is desirable to do this while bag 47is deflated, because then it need not be lowered so deep, and becausewhen inliated bag 47 has considerable buoyancy making it hard to handleunder water. Nevertheless, bag 47 may be inflated and placed underfloating boat 11 by merely lowering it a little deeper than shown, andit is desired to cover both these `alternative Ways of operating. Iflowered in inflated form (not shown), boat 11 may then be picked out ofthe Water simply by hoisting slings 38 and 39.

However, if placed under boat 11 with bag 47 in deflated form, the `bagshould then be inated by pumping air under pressure in at connection 4'8until boat 11 is supported thereon, and then hoisting slings 38 and 39into the position shown in the right-hand broken line position of boat11 in the center of 'FIGURE 1. Once the bottom of pallet 46 is hoistedto a greater elevation than Vthat of deck 14 by motors 36 and 37, thenthe suspended platform 46 and supported bag 47 and boat 11 supportedtherein can be hauled by motor 29 to the right-hand solid line positionof boat 11 over the oor portion 14 of land 13 and lowered until pallet46 sits on the surface of deck 14.

At this time, or at any time later in the process beforel i bag 47 isdellated, solid support chocks 49 and 51 may be secured, preferably inform-fitting contour With the hull 52 of boat 11, preferably fore andaft of bag 47, by any suitable means such as straps 53 andclamps 54 ofconventional construction. While it is preferred to attach chocks orcontour blocks 49 and 51 to boat 11 by securing means 53, it isunnecessary to do so as chocks 49 and S1 can be brought up after pallet46 has positioned the boat 11 in its final storage position and can beplaced under boat 11 without using straps 53, and then lowering the boat11 onto said chocks by means of deflating bag 47 at air connection 48.

VFIGURE 2 continues the operation from the solid line position of boat11 in FIGURE 1 by removing slings 38 and 39 fromboat 11 and removing airfitting 48 and extension line 56 from air tting 57. Both air 4fittings48 and 57 -contain `automobile tire-type spring-pressed check valveswhich normally .allow air to pass into bags 47 but will not allow air tocome out unless the valve is depressed by hand, or tool. As these valvesare common in all automobile tires today, it is unnecessary toillustrate them.

air pallet 46. As soon as a suicient amount of air at a sufficientpressure and at a suicient rate passes through hose 58, pallet 46supporting bag 47 and boat11 will rise off the ground and hover at leasta fraction of an inch above the ground, utilizing the ground effectprinciple of air flotation for easy movement across smooth areas. Aslong as air continues to be pumped in hose 58 at a suitable rate, boat11 may be pushed by hand, as a force of less than 10 pounds will movewell over a ton of load on an air pallet with only an air pressure of 3to 5 pounds per square inch gauge inside the pallet. One advantage ofthe air pallet 46 over a dolly having casters (not shown) is that it maybe moved instantly in any direction whatever without waiting for thecasters to turn, or applying force to turn the casters. Also, the `airpallet will support l-oads greater than the caste-rs can stand and willnot make -marks on the floor or tear up the lioor as heavily-loadedcasters will do.

Assuming that solid supporting chocks 49 and 51 have been secured inplace with straps 53 and clamps 54, whenever the boat is positionedwhere it is to be stored, turning off the air coming through hose 58will lower the boat into a xed position on the pallet 46, whereupon theair can be let out of bag 47 iby depressing valve 57 and the boat willbe lowered onto supports 49 and 51. Bag 47 being further deflated, airpallet 46 and bag 47 can be easily pulled out from under the boat 11.While this movement can be aided by pumping in more air through pipe 58,this is not generally necessary as pallet 46 and bag 47 are light andcan be dragged by hand out from under the boat without any air lift.However, continued air lift is preferred.

In some instances it may not be desirable to att-ach chocks 49 and 51with straps 53, but they can tbe positioned under the boat 11 after ithas been removed to its nal position and before deating bag 47.

FIGURE 3, being a cross-sectional View of FIGURE 2, is believed to needn-o further explanation. It is noted, however, that insteadof a singlebag 47 -a pair of bags 47 may be employed on air pallet 46 to supportboat 11, in which case there must be an air valve 57 for each of thebags.

FIGURE 4 is merely a view of boat 11-sitting in storage `on chocks 49and 51 after ybag 47 and pallet 46 have been removed, and FIGURE 5 is across-sectional view of the same, so no further description isnecessary. These chocks are preferably made to lit the contour of thehull of the particular 'boat being st-ored and can be provided with alayer of foamed rubber or felt 58 next to the hull of the boat.

At this point an air hose 58 is attached to blow air into FIGURES 6 and7 show the air-in-pallet modification of the ground elect air liftsystem. Compressed air at a pressure of about pounds per square inchgauge is forced into fitting 59 at a rate suicient to maintain thispressure in plenum chamber 61 of FIGURE 7, this air being preferablydistributed to said plenum chamber through a suitable manifold 62. Whilemany alternative constructions can be employed, in FIGURE 7 the pallethas a metal body comprising sides 63, top 64 and bottom 66, with zigzagreinforcing 67 provided with opening 68 allowing air to move in plenumchamber 61 throughout the entire body. At suitable intervals as shown,there are providedA air nozzles 69 through which the air blows againstthe floor 14 with sufficient force to raise the pallet 46 and supportedboat 11 olf of lloor 14 a fraction of an inch on a owing blanket lofair. In order to reduce wear and friction, the top of pallet 46 may beprovided with a plywood layer 71 and the bottom is provided with aresilient pad 72 of natural or synthetic rubber, or other suitableresilient material, preferably covered with a sculf-resistant coating 73of either a suitable laminated plastic, such as polyethylene orpolyester, or a layer of metal.

While as pointed out above it is easy for one man to push a' large boataround on this air pallet, in order to operate in the most ecient mannerwith a minimum of human labor, in FIGURE 8 it is preferable to have anautomobile tractor 74. Such tractor 74 is well known, being used as afork lift truck and the like, and may 'be purchased on the open market,and therefore a detailed description is believed unnecessary. Tractor 74is provided with a motor 76 which may be an internal combustion engine,or electric motor with a battery, and this motor may be used to drivewheels 77 in the manner of any automobile. If desired, instead of havingair hose 58 come from a stationary air compressor (not shown), aportable air blower 7S may be mounted on tractor 74 and driven by motor76 (or an auxiliary motor not shown), and hose 58 may be supported froma boom 79 `on tractor 74. There are numerous Ways in which tractor 74may be connected to air pallet 46 in order to push or pull the same,such as by boom 81, balls 82 mounted on pallet 46 and socket connection83 mounted on `boom 81 and adapted to be clamped around ball 82. As suchconnections are quite old on automobiles and trailers for automobiles,it is believed unnecessary to go into specific details. In FIGURE 9 isshown a second modification of the ground effect air lift principle inwhich a pallet 85 is supported on a moving blanket of air a fraction ofan inch above oor 84 by means of air coming through pipes 86 and 87 inoor 84 to a series of outlets 88 and 89 spaced in floor 84. Each ofoutlets 88 and 89 is provided with a ball check valve 91 which ispressed upward to seal outlet 88 by helical compression'spring 92 at alltimes except when the lower layer 73 of pallet 85 contacts ball 91 asthe outlet 89 depresses the same and allows air to escape from pipe 87around ball 91 and out between layer 73 and oor 84 supporting the pallet85 on a moving blanket of air. It should be noted that pallet S5 appearsthe same as pallet 46 of FIGURE 7 and can be exactly the same. However,it is possible to add a closed valve (not shown) to pipe 59 of FIGURE 6and/ or to eliminate air nozzles 69 of FIGURE 7 and have surface 73unbroken and flat (not shown), although if valve balls 91 are closeenough together as shown, pallet 46 will operate the same as 85 overthem, which is preferred.

When the system of FIGURE 9 is employed, a stationary air compressor(not shown) supplies air to pipes 86 and 87 and it is unnecessary fortractor 74 of FIGURE 8 to have blower 78 or air hose SS because thepallet is bein-g supported by air being blown through the oor. Carefulconsideration should be given as to whether the system of FIGURE 7 orthat of FIGURE 9 is more 6. suitable forv the particular marina that isbeing constructed. Unless there is some reason why the system of FIGURE9 is preferable, it is lbelieved the system of FIGURE 7 is the one to bechosen, asy it is more versatile, cheaper to install and operate, .andrequires less maintenance. However, FIGURE 9 obviously requires lessequipment and less hauling around of air hose 58 which is eliminated.

Obviously, the launching of the boat 11 from its position on chocks 49,shownin FIGURE 5, to its position in the water 12, as shown in brokenlines at the left side of FIGURE l, is ak mere reversal of the proceduredescribed above. Pallet 46 with air bags 47 deflated is inserted underthe boat 11 between chocks 49 and 51 and air bags 47 are then inflatedwith compressed air through air valves 57. As bags 47' inllate, boat 11is gently lifted until chocks 49 and 51 leave the lloor 14. Obviously,at any time after the inilating bags 47 engage boat 11, chocks 49 and 51may be detached by undoing straps 53 from catches 54 if, in fact, straps53 and clamps S4 were ever used. Air is then pumped through hose 58 intopallet 46, or if pallet 83 of FIGURE 9 is being employed, air is pumpedinto pipes 86 and 87, until whichever pallet 46 or 83 is being usediloats on a blanket of air by ground effect. At this time pallet 46 or83 and supported boat 11 may be pushed by hand or by tractor 74, undercrane 17, and slings 38 and 39 attached Yto balls 82. Air hose 58 (ifused) is disconnected and handle 44 is rotated to actuate motors 36 and37 to hoist pallet 46 and boat 11 off of the oor 14 a suitable distance,whereupon motors 36 and 37 are shut off and handle 43 is employed toactuate motor 29 to haul boat 11 to the left out over water 12 whereuponmotor 29 is stopped and motors 36 and 37 are actuated to lower boat 11into water 12. At this point, pallet 46 and air bag 47 may be loweredsuflciently so that boat 11 floats out of them, or they can be loweredso that boat 11 is ready to float and then bag 47 is dellated, freeingboat 11. While specific apparatus and specific process steps have beendescribed for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto. Obviously, whether pallet 46 and airbag 47 can be lowered in the water with the bag indated, or not, dependson Whether the submerged weight of the pallet is sufficient to overcomethe buoyancy of the inlated bag. If this weight is not sucient, the bagcan always be deflated so that the combined pallet, supports and bagwill sink in the water.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The process of removing a boat from water and storing said boat onland, said water and land both being covered in part by a crane,comprising the steps of:

suspending a platform by slings from said crane;

placing the suspended platform under said boat while said boat oats onsaid water;

positioning an inatable bag between said boat and said platform;

inflating said bag to raise said boat on said platform;

hoisting said platform, supported bag and supported boat from lsaidwater with said crane;

moving said hoisted platform, bag and boat over a portion of said landcovered by said crane;

lowering said platform, bag and boat onto said land;

disconnecting said slings from said platform; injecting air between saidland and said platform in suicient amount and at sutiicient pressure toelevate said platform on a cushion of flowing air;

moving said platform, supported inflated bag and supported boat to adesired storage point while elevated on said cushion of air;

positioning solid supporting chocks between said land and said boat; and

dellating said bag and thereby lowering said boat on said chocks forstorage.

2. The process of removing a boat from water and storing said boat onland, said water and land both being covered in part by a crane,comprising the steps of:

suspending a platform by slings from said crane;

placing the suspended platform under said boat while said boat floats onsaid water;

positioning an inflated bag between said boat and said platform; l

hoisting said platform, supported bag and supported boat from said waterwith said crane;

moving said hoisted platform, bag and boat over a portion of said landcovered by said crane;

' lowering said platform, bag and boat onto said land;

disconnecting said slings from said platform; injecting air between saidland and said platform in suicient amount and at sufficient pressure toelevate said platform on a cushion of ilowing air;

moving said platform, supported inflated bag and supported boat to adesired storage point while elevated on said cushion of air;

positioning solid supporting clocks between said land and said boat; anddeating said bag and thereby lowering said boat on said chocks forstorage.

3. The process of removing a boat from solid supporting chocks on landand floating said boat in water, said water and land both being coveredin part by a crane, comprising the steps of placing a platform undersaid boat;

positioning an inflatable bag between s aid platform and boat; g inatingsaid bag and raising said boat oif of said chocks;

injecting air between said land and said platform in sufficient amountand at sucient pressure to elevate said platform on a cushion of flowingair;

moving said platform, supported inflated bag and supported boat to aposition on land under said crane while elevated on said cushion of air;

attaching said platform to said crane by slings;

hoisting said platform, supported bag and supported boat from said land;v

moving said platform, bag and boat over said water;

and

lowering said platform, bag and boat into said water into a positionwhere said boat will float when said bag is deated and deflating saidbag so that said boat floats.

4. The process of removing a boat from solid supporting chocks on landand floating said boat in water, said water and land both being coveredin part by a crane, comprising the steps of:

placing a platform under said boat;

positioning a-n inflatable bag between said platform and boat; v

inflating said bag and raising said boat off of said chocks;

injecting air between said land and said platform in sufficient amountand at sufficient pressure to elevate said platform on a cushion offlowing air;

moving said platform, supported inflated bag and supported boat to aposition on land under said crane while elevate-d on said cushion ofair; Y attaching said platform to said crane by slings; hoisting saidplatform, supported bag and supported boat from said land; moving saidplatform, bag and boat over said water;

and lowering said platform, bag and boat into said water into a positionwhere said boat will float.

5. A system for storing boats on land adjacent a body of watercomprising in combination:

a crane movable over a portion of said land and a portion of said Water;means comprising a platform and an inflatable bag positioned on saidplatform adapted to support the hull of said boat thereon; sling meansadapted to connect said platform to said crane when said crane is usedto hoist said boat; means to inject air under sufficient pressure, insufficient quantity and at a suicient rate to raise said platform off ofsaid land on a cushion of flowing air when said platform is to be movedon land; solid supporting chocks adapted to support the hull of saidboat on land -at an elevation sufficient to allow the removal andinsertion l'of said platform andinatable bag from under said boat whensaid bag is deflated and insuficient for said chocks toreach the grou-ndwhen said bag is inflated; means to inflate said bag when desired; and-means to deate said bag when desired. l `6. The combination of claim 5in which the lmeans to inject air to raise said platform off of saidland comprises an -air compressor having a discharge conduit, a plenumchamber` in said platform, and spaced holes in the bottom of saidplatform connected lto said plenum chamber, with said discharge conduitconnected to said plenum chamber. 7. The combination of claim 6 in whichthere is pro,- vided an automobile having -an engine, means forconnecting said automobile to said platform, and said air compressor ismounted on said automobile and driven by said engine.

8. The combination of claim 5 1n which the means toA inject air to raisesaid platform olf of said land comprises an air compressor having adischarge conduit, a manifold of pipes in the land connected to saiddischarge conduit, said pipes having a series of spaced openings, and anoutwardly-closing ball check valve controlling How of air through veachopening positioned so as to be depressed and opened by said platform. t

References Ctediby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hurst T 2112-20MARVIN CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. i

5. A SYSTEM FOR STORING BOATS ON LAND ADJACENT A BODY OF WATER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A CRANE MOVABLE OVER A PORTION OF SAID LAND AND A PORTION OF SAID WATER; MEANS COMPRISING A PLATFORM AND AN INFLATABLE BAG POSITIONED ON SAID PLATFORM ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE HULL OF SAID BOAT THEREON; SLING MEANS ADAPTED TO CONNECT SAID PLATFORM TO SAID CRANE WHEN SAID CRANE IS USED TO HOIST SAID BOAT; MEANS TO INJECT AIR UNDER SUFFICIENT PRESSURE, IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY AND AT A SUFFICIENT RATE TO RAISE SAID PLATFORM OFF OF SAID LAND ON A CUSHION OF FLOWING AIR WHEN SAID PLATFOR IS TO BE MOVED ON LAND; SOLID SUPPORTING CHOCKS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE HULL OF SAID BOAT ON LAND AT AN ELEVATION SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THE REMOVAL AND INSERTION OF SAID PLATFORM AND INFLATABLE BAG FROM UNDER SAID BOAT WHEN SAID BAG IS DEFLATED AND SUFFICIENT FOR SAID CHOCKS TO REACH THE GROUND WHEN SAID BAG IS INFLATED; MEANS TO INFLATE SAID BAG WHEN DESIRED; AND MEANS TO DEFLATE SAID BAG WHEN DESIRED. 